Project Upland Magazine

06/22/2026

German hunting dogs have become increasingly popular among North American hunters because of their versatility and regulated testing and breeding programs. Ask someone about the difference between a Deutsch Drahthaar and a German Wirehaired Pointer and you’re liable to start an argument—been there, done that. Regardless of your position on the dogs, though, their associated breed clubs in North America have very different origins, structures, and philosophies. These clubs are the basis from which German hunting dogs are tested, evaluated, bred, and registered.

Learn about German hunting dog breeds and how the German dog breed clubs and hunt testing systems work in North America.

06/19/2026

There’s no science-based management without well-funded science, and now is not a great time for research funding. Today, many of the researchers responsible for studying game birds and their habitats are working with extremely limited resources. As support for research declines, the amount of reliable data available to guide management and policy declines with it.

Show your support for native prairie grouse by purchasing a Sharp-tailed Grouse Conservation Stamp. 100% of sales of this stamp go directly toward sharptail research.

Visit projectuplandfoundation.org to learn more about our mission of closing the gap on game bird funding and to purchase your stamps. Follow along to see how these funds end up contributing directly to the future of our game birds.

It’s time for hunters to reclaim the title of conservationists by meaningfully supporting the science that drives management of game birds and their habitat.

Support sharp-tailed grouse research with this conservation stamp. 100% of proceeds fund science to protect native game birds in the U.S.

06/16/2026

Most French pointing breeds remain relatively unknown in North America despite being developed specifically for upland hunting. This is largely because they arrived later than German hunting dog breeds, had limited exposure through field trials and hunt tests, and lacked the strong international breed club networks that helped German hunting dogs gain popularity in America.

Understanding why French pointing dog breeds aren’t as popular as German breeds in America requires a look at history, culture, and the evolution of American hunting dog testing.

French pointing dog breeds are perfect for bird hunting, so why are they rare in North America? Explore the history behind their rarity.

06/01/2026

Some folks have jobs, some have careers...Dr. Joe Spoo has a calling.

Check our our newest release: "Gun Dog Doc" today. Link in bio.

05/29/2026

Shop Brittany dog shirts, hats, mugs & stickers. Unique gifts for Brittany lovers featuring original breed art. Premium quality, printed in the USA.

05/29/2026

Jack was the first member of the hunting camp I met besides Dominic. In his seventies, he had become as much a part of the place as the exposed rough-hewn timber rafters, some of the last remnants of the original material used to build the cabin. He always sat in his favorite chair beside an empty one where his best friend and fellow camp member had sat before he passed away. After a while, I took to sitting in that empty chair and slowly began peeling back the layers of this hunting veteran’s persona.

On the surface, he was tough and rough, still holding strong like those original timber beams. His physical strength belied his age. He was quiet and did not speak to me much at first. It took many days of hunting together before we became comfortable with one another. Then I found beneath those layers a caring, kind, even playful and humorous old friend. As I came to learn, he also carried the kind of knowledge about the forest that only years of experience and hunting camp traditions could earn.

I had already known Dominic for years, though not very well. A longtime friend of my in-laws, he was a bit younger than Jack but still twenty years my senior. Selflessly, he began mentoring me as a new hunter even before my first trip with him to camp. Not only was he patient and supportive while teaching me the basics, but he also lent me gear, shared his favorite public land spots, and gave me access to private land hunting permissions he had been cultivating for years. I would not have been able to transition my lifestyle into the outdoor enthusiast I am today without Dom.

Over the years, he has become more than a mentor. Our journeys together have taken us to faraway places and on trips neither of us will ever forget.

Hunting camp traditions preserve mentorship, stewardship, and generational knowledge through those who pass down America’s outdoor heritage.

05/27/2026

In this “Civics of Conservation” episode of the Project Upland Podcast, AJ and Gabby are joined by veteran journalist and former Montana Fish and Wildlife commissioner Andrew McKean to explore the often misunderstood world of fish and game commissions and the powerful role they play in shaping wildlife policy across the United States.

Together, they examine how commissions function at the intersection of science, politics, and public accountability, overseeing everything from hunting seasons and regulations to agency budgets, conservation priorities, and long-term strategic planning. The conversation breaks down how commissions operate, how the public can engage with them, and why their influence reaches far beyond hunting and fishing.

Learn how Fish and Game Commissions sit at the intersection of science, politics, and public responsibility for wildlife.

05/27/2026

The recipe is deceptively simple yet surprisingly complex. I don’t typically like to cook with premixed seasonings, but it works here. The pepperoncinis also add a unique tang that you don’t get in other pot roasts.

The original recipe calls for beef, of course, but I found that wild turkey makes a tasty alternative. I used wild turkey breast, but legs and thighs could also work. If you go this route, be aware that these parts can take almost forever to cook to tender, so add more water as needed to keep it moist. And be patient.

A relatively new recipe destined to be a southern classic, this pot roast adapts well to wild turkey and is simple to make.

05/25/2026

The formation of the United States created a unique question: if the rights to the water and the wildlife could not be owned by a king, then they also could not be owned by the government, because that government would be acting like a king. The people are their own sovereign, and therefore the government would have to hold the waters and wildlife in trust for the people—the true owners. This became the foundation for state and federal wildlife agencies serving as trustees of public lands, waters, and wildlife, managing them not according to the shifting whims of political leaders, but according to a responsibility owed to the public itself. While the Constitution did not explicitly articulate this principle, the Supreme Court did. Everyday hunters like you and I have benefited from it ever since.

How the Public Trust Doctrine Built the Uniquely American Idea of Publicly Owned Wildlife and Wildlife Management.

05/25/2026

Gray partridge, also called Hungarian partridge or Huns, deserve a far more respectable descriptor, yet the moniker “bonus bird” has its reasons. Huns are often referred to as bonus birds because they aren’t very predictable until one has unexpectedly flushed them, often while chasing other birds.

One time, I was chasing Huns when a late season covey flushed just out of range. The birds sailed over the horizon, dipping into the creek drainage that meandered through towering basin big sagebrush. The only reason I was at this spot was because I had inadvertently flushed a covey of Huns while switching between hunting valley quail along the creek to chukar in the rimrock above. That day, like I’d done a hundred times before, I found myself wondering how anyone could predict where to find Huns if they—or someone they knew—hadn’t already flushed a covey in the area.

Let’s explore why Huns are so hard to find, and consider that it can be worth splitting gray partridge into two groups: agricultural Huns (or ag Huns) and range Huns.

Why gray partridge—or Hungarian partridge and Huns—are one of upland hunting’s most unpredictable birds in agricultural areas and rangelands.